Semi-automatic vehicle roof tent

ABSTRACT

A semi-automatic vehicle roof tent, comprising a base, tent frame rods, a tarpaulin fitted on the tent frame rods and the base, and driving mechanisms The tent frame rods comprise at least two U-shaped support rods, two free ends of each U-shaped support rod are respectively pin jointed to two ends of one side of the base, the driving mechanisms are respectively arranged on two lengthwise frames of the base, the driving mechanisms are telescopic structures, one end of each telescopic structure is pin jointed on a frame of the base, the other end is pin jointed on the outermost U-shaped support rod of the tent frame rods with respect to the base, and each U-shaped support rod is fixed together with the tarpaulin. The vehicle roof tent is simple in structure, convenient to operate, and easy to unfold and fold.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a tent, and more particularly to a semi-automatic vehicle roof tent.

Description of the Prior Art

With great increase of private cars, driving a car has become a new way to travel. In order to meet the convenience of travel by car, subsidiary products for self-driving travel are in the ascendant. A vehicle roof tent is developed accordingly.

A vehicle roof tent is mounted on top of a car roof. When in use, the vehicle roof tent is not disposed on the ground like other tents. Thus, it won't be susceptible to the ground wet and moisture, so it is more comfortable for use. Vehicle roof tents are disclosed as Chinese Patent Publication No. CN201531147U published Jul. 21, 2010, Chinese Patent Publication No. CN202187605U published Apr. 11, 2012, and Chinese Patent Publication No. CN203213695U published Sep. 25, 2013.

A conventional vehicle roof tent frame comprises a base and tent frame rods disposed on the base. The tent frame rods can be unfolded and folded. There are many types of structures to unfold and fold the tent frame rods. Some are operated manually, some are operated semi-automatically, and some are operated automatically. The tent frame structure is complicated and the cost is high, resulting in that the vehicle roof tent is expensive. Accordingly, the inventor of the present invention has devoted himself based on his many years of practical experiences to solve these problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a semi-automatic vehicle roof tent which has a simple structure and can be operated conveniently.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a semi-automatic vehicle roof tent comprises a base, a tent frame rod, a tarpaulin fitted on the tent frame rod and the base, and a driving mechanism. Wherein, the tent frame rod comprises at least two U-shaped support rods. Two free ends of each of the U-shaped support rods are pivotally connected to two ends of one side of the base. Two side frames of the base, relative to the two free ends of each of the U-shaped support rods, are each provided with the driving mechanism. The driving mechanism is a telescopic structure, having one end pivoted to a corresponding one of the side frames of the base and another end pivoted to the outermost one of the U-shaped support rods relative to the base. Each of the U-shaped support rods is connected with the tarpaulin.

Preferably, each of the U-shaped support rods includes a transverse rod and two upright rods. The transverse rod corresponds to a width of the base. The two upright rods correspond to a length of the base. The other end of the driving mechanism is pivoted to a lower portion of a corresponding one of the two upright rods of the outermost U-shaped support rod relative to the base.

Preferably, the driving mechanism is a gas spring, a pneumatic cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, or an elastic telescopic structure.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a semi-automatic vehicle roof tent comprises a base, a tent frame rod, a tarpaulin fitted on the tent frame rod and the base, and a driving mechanism. Wherein, the tent frame rod comprises at least two U-shaped support rods, two free ends of each of the U-shaped support rods are pivotally connected to two ends of one side of the base. Each of the U-shaped support rods is pivotally connected with the driving mechanism having a telescopic structure. One end of the driving mechanism is pivotally connected to a side frame of the base. An outer edge of the tarpaulin is fixed to the base and the outermost one of the U-shaped support rods relative to the base.

Preferably, each of the U-shaped support rods includes a transverse rod and two upright rods. The transverse rod corresponds to a width of the base. The two upright rods correspond to a length of the base.

Preferably, the driving mechanism is a gas spring, a pneumatic cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, or an elastic telescopic structure.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, a semi-automatic vehicle roof tent comprises a base, a tent frame rod, and a tarpaulin fitted on the tent frame rod and the base. Wherein, the tent frame rod comprises at least three U-shaped support rods. Two free ends of each of the U-shaped support rods are pivotally connected to two ends of one side of the base. The second one of the U-shaped support rods, counted from bottom to top relative to the base, is pivotally connected with a first driving mechanism having a telescopic structure connected to the base. A second driving mechanism having a telescopic structure is pivotally connected between the second one of the U-shaped support rods and the outermost one of the U-shaped support rods. The tarpaulin is fixed to the base, the first one of the U-shaped support rods, and the outermost one of the U-shaped support rods.

Preferably, each of the U-shaped support rods includes a transverse rod and two upright rods. The transverse rod corresponds to a width of the base. The two upright rods correspond to a length of the base.

Preferably, each of the first driving mechanism and the second driving mechanism is a gas spring, a pneumatic cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, or an elastic telescopic structure.

To sum up, one side of the base is pivotally connected with at least two U-shaped support rods, and a driving mechanism having a telescopic structure is provided so as to achieve the extension and retraction function of the entire tent. The semi-automatic vehicle roof tent of the present invention has a simple structure, and its operation is convenient.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the tent frame rod in an unfolded state according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view showing the tent in an unfolded state according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the tent frame rod to be folded according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the tent in a folded state according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the tent frame rod in an unfolded state according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the tent frame rod in an unfolded state according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 4, the present invention discloses a semi-automatic vehicle roof tent. The semi-automatic vehicle roof tent according to a first embodiment of present invention comprises a base 1, a tent frame rod 2, a tarpaulin 3 fitted on the tent frame rod 2 and the base 1, and a driving mechanism 4.

The base 1 is a frame configuration, which can be placed on the ground or secured to the top of a vehicle.

The tent frame rod 2 comprises at least two U-shaped support rods 21. Two free ends of each of the U-shaped support rods 21 are pivotally connected to two ends of a side of the base 1. Each U-shaped support rod 21 includes a transverse rod 211 and two upright rods 212. The transverse rod 211 corresponds in length to one side of the base 1. The two upright rods 212 correspond in length to the other side of the base 1. In this embodiment, the tent frame rod 2 comprises three U-shaped support rods 21 which are all connected with the tarpaulin 3.

Two side frames of the base 1, corresponding to the two free ends of the U-shaped support rod 21, are each provided with the driving mechanisms 4. The driving mechanism 4 is a telescopic structure, having one end pivoted to the side frame of the base 1 and another end pivoted to a lower portion of the upright rod 212 of the outermost U-shaped support rod 21 relative to the base 1. The driving mechanism 4 may be a gas spring, a pneumatic cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, or an elastic telescopic structure, which may be any structure that can be extended and retracted in the longitudinal direction.

Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, when the tent is folded, the outermost U-shaped support rod 21 is applied with a force toward the base 1 to overcome the support force of the driving mechanism 4. In case a webbing 5 fixed to the outermost U-shaped support rod 21 is used, each U-shaped support rod 21 is folded toward the base 1 and the driving mechanism 4 is compressed to be fully folded and then secured. This allows the tent to be folded. At this time, the driving mechanism 4 is in a compressed energy-stored state. On the contrary, when the binding force of the outermost U-shaped support rod 21 is released, the uppermost U-shaped support rod 21 is pushed by the driving mechanism 4 to extend upwardly and outwardly. Meanwhile, the tarpaulin 3 is stretched, and the other two U-shaped support rods 21 are brought by the tarpaulin 3 to extend, such that the tent is in an unfolded state.

FIG. 5 illustrates a second embodiment of the semi-automatic vehicle roof tent of the present invention. The second embodiment is substantially similar to the first embodiment with the exceptions described hereinafter. The two upright rods 212 of each U-shaped support rod 21 are pivotally connected with the driving mechanisms 4, respectively. One end of each driving mechanism 4 is pivotally connected to the side frame of the base 1. The outer edge of the tarpaulin 3 is secured to the base 1 and the outermost U-shaped support rod 21 relative to the base 1. The second embodiment also achieves the function to extend or retract the tent freely.

FIG. 6 illustrates a third embodiment of the semi-automatic vehicle roof tent of the present invention. The third embodiment is substantially similar to the first embodiment with the exceptions described hereinafter. Three U-shaped support rods 21 are taken as an example. The second one of the U-shaped support rods 21, counted from bottom to top relative to the base 1, is pivotally connected with a first driving mechanism 4 connected to the base 1. A second driving mechanism 4′ is pivotally connected between the second one of the U-shaped support rods 21 and the outermost U-shaped support rod 21. The tarpaulin 3 is secured to the base 1, the first one of the U-shaped support rods 21, and the outermost U-shaped support rod 21. The third embodiment also achieves the function to extend or retract the tent freely.

To sum up, one side of the base 1 is pivotally connected with at least two U-shaped support rods 21, and a driving mechanism 4 having a telescopic structure is provided so as to achieve the extension and retraction function of the entire tent. The semi-automatic vehicle roof tent of the present invention has a simple structure, and its operation is convenient.

Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A semi-automatic vehicle roof tent, comprising a base, a tent frame rod, a tarpaulin fitted on the tent frame rod and the base, and a driving mechanism; characterized in that: the tent frame rod comprises at least two U-shaped support rods, two free ends of each of the U-shaped support rods are pivotally connected to two ends of one side of the base, two lengthwise side frames of the base, relative to the two free ends of each of the U-shaped support rods, are each provided with the driving mechanism, the driving mechanism is a telescopic structure, having one end pivoted to a corresponding one of the side frames of the base and another end pivoted to the outermost one of the U-shaped support rods relative to the base, and each of the U-shaped support rods is connected with the tarpaulin.
 2. The semi-automatic vehicle roof tent as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the U-shaped support rods includes a transverse rod and two upright rods, the transverse rod corresponds to a width of the base, the two upright rods correspond to a length of the base, and the other end of the driving mechanism is pivoted to a lower portion of a corresponding one of the two upright rods of the outermost U-shaped support rod relative to the base.
 3. The semi-automatic vehicle roof tent as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driving mechanism is a gas spring, a pneumatic cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, or an elastic telescopic structure.
 4. A semi-automatic vehicle roof tent, comprising a base, a tent frame rod, a tarpaulin fitted on the tent frame rod and the base, and a driving mechanism; characterized in that: the tent frame rod comprises at least two U-shaped support rods, two free ends of each of the U-shaped support rods are pivotally connected to two ends of one side of the base, each of the U-shaped support rods is pivotally connected with the driving mechanism having a telescopic structure, one end of the driving mechanism is pivotally connected to a side frame of the base, and an outer edge of the tarpaulin is fixed to the base and the outermost one of the U-shaped support rods relative to the base.
 5. The semi-automatic vehicle roof tent as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of the U-shaped support rods includes a transverse rod and two upright rods, the transverse rod corresponds to a width of the base, and the two upright rods correspond to a length of the base.
 6. The semi-automatic vehicle roof tent as claimed in claim 4, wherein the driving mechanism is a gas spring, a pneumatic cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, or an elastic telescopic structure.
 7. A semi-automatic vehicle roof tent, comprising a base, a tent frame rod, and a tarpaulin fitted on the tent frame rod and the base; characterized in that: the tent frame rod comprises at least three U-shaped support rods, two free ends of each of the U-shaped support rods are pivotally connected to two ends of one side of the base, the second one of the U-shaped support rods, counted from bottom to top relative to the base, is pivotally connected with a first driving mechanism having a telescopic structure connected to the base, a second driving mechanism having a telescopic structure is pivotally connected between the second one of the U-shaped support rods and the outermost one of the U-shaped support rods, and the tarpaulin is fixed to the base, the first one of the U-shaped support rods, and the outermost one of U-shaped support rods.
 8. The semi-automatic vehicle roof tent as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of the U-shaped support rods includes a transverse rod and two upright rods, the transverse rod corresponds to a width of the base, and the two upright rods correspond to a length of the base.
 9. The semi-automatic vehicle roof tent as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of the first driving mechanism and the second driving mechanism is a gas spring, a pneumatic cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, or an elastic telescopic structure. 